Former Vice President and failed presidential candidate Mike Pence on Sunday went on the assault in opposition to his former boss, accusing President Trump of being too tender on Russia within the ongoing battle with Ukraine and calling on him to convey the “hammer” down.
“I do know his type in coping with these dictators. It’s the velvet glove,” Pence mentioned in a rebuke of the President’s cool and picked up dealmaking type. “I feel the hammer wants to come back, and it wants to come back instantly.”
Pence made the feedback on CNN’s State of the Union with Jake Tapper.
This comes the day earlier than President Trump plans to host a summit on the White Home with European leaders, together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to doubtlessly dealer an finish to the struggle in Ukraine. Beforehand, on Friday, Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the place the 2 got here to an settlement to safe peace, pending Ukraine and NATO cooperation.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, Trump introduced early on Saturday that he spoke with Zelensky, European leaders, and the NATO Secretary Normal. The President mentioned on Saturday that he’ll host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the White Home on Monday.
Zelensky will probably be joined on the White Home by a number of European leaders, together with NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
President Trump can be teasing the potential of a trilateral assembly with himself, Zelensky, and Putin as quickly as Friday.
Pence instructed Jake Tapper that the President “ought to select up the cellphone and ask Majority Chief John Thune to to instantly cross the secondary sanctions invoice” whereas he meets with the leaders on Monday. “Putin solely understands energy. So, whereas the President and his diplomatic workforce have interaction on this re-approach with Putin, and there appears to be curiosity, in my judgment, Putin’s not going to cease till he stopped,” Pence mentioned.
Nonetheless, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday morning outlined the Trump Administration’s stance that secondary sanctions might function a sign from the US of “strolling away from any prospect of a negotiated settlement right here.”
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Pence: You recognize, I served alongside the president for 4 years. I do know his type in coping with these dictators. It’s the velvet glove, however I feel the hammer wants to come back, and it wants to come back instantly. I feel the President, as he welcomes President Zelensky to the Oval Workplace tomorrow and a complete forged of our allies in Europe which might be going to be becoming a member of him, I feel on the similar time, he ought to select up the cellphone and ask Majority Chief John Thune to to instantly cross the secondary sanctions invoice that’s supported by nearly everybody in the US Senate.
I feel, the mix of engagement, but additionally making it clear to Putin that we’re ready to take actions that may actually break his economic system, even whereas we redouble our dedication to the safety of Ukraine and to working intently with our European allies is necessary. Look, I mentioned it earlier than. I am going to say it once more: Within the lengthy historical past of the final 25 years, Putin has made it clear, he launched an assault into Georgia when President Bush was in workplace. He attacked Crimea in Ukraine when Obama was in workplace.
After that disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan, he crossed the border and began this struggle three years in the past. Putin has made it no secret of the truth that he desires to reassert the previous Soviet sphere of affect, what we used to name the evil empire in Japanese Europe, and I feel Putin solely understands energy. So, whereas the President and his diplomatic workforce have interaction on this re-approach with Putin, and there appears to be curiosity, in my judgment, Putin’s not going to cease till he stopped.
